Rolex GMT-Master II 116719BLRO

When Rolex released the GMT-Master II "Pepsi," ref. 116719BLRO at the 2014 Baselworld Fair in Geneva it sent enthusiasts into a collective state and engendered endless conversation in the process. Rendered in the patented Rolex Cerachrom ceramic with platinum numerals, BLRO stands for Bleu & Rouge, (blue and red), which is the bezel colorway of the much loved original GMT from 1955. Interestingly, Rolex chose to release this new "Pepsi" in solid 18 carat white gold, including the Oyster bracelet, luminous surrounds on the dial and the Mercedes and GMT hands making this watch terrifically unique in the world of Rolex GMTs. Outfitted with the patented screw-down, Triplock crown and the lauded in-house automatic caliber 3186 movement this is modern "tool" watchmaking at its finest. The 116719BLRO is the watch so many enthusiasts wanted Rolex to release in steel, which makes this piece a coveted bit of kit among the Rolex cognoscenti. Originally designed to allow PanAm pilots the ability to simultaneously track two separate timezones - one set against the 24-hour Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) via an arrow tipped hand - today's GMT continues to evoke the golden age of transatlantic flight in the 1950s and the jetset of the 1980s. The new "Pepsi" is cosmopolitan in a way that feels like a secret to the wearer - at a glance it looks like a lovely steel watch, to pick it up and wear it, however, is to know that it's something special and intended for a very specific individual.